The rest, as they say, is history, with England scoring three second-half goals to seal an unprecedented 5-1 victory and seize the initiative in Group Nine.

BBC Sport Online looks at the fluctuating fortunes of England's heroic XI in the year since they destroyed their oldest adversary - and recorded their greatest triumph since winning the World Cup.

Seaman was distraught after his error against Brazil

David Seaman The Arsenal goalkeeper won the Double with the Gunners and enjoyed a superb World Cup - until Brazil!

Seaman was beaten by Ronaldinho's audacious free-kick and ended the match in tears.

The 37-year-old did not - as many expect - announce his international retirement but was not named in the squad to face Portugal.

Gary Neville Neville played in England's two remaining qualification games but his World Cup hopes were wrecked when he broke his foot playing for Manchester United in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Neville has yet to return to action.

Ashley Cole Cole has matured as a player since Munich, developing his all-round game. He remains a potent force pushing forward and played in all of England's World Cup games.

Another member of Arsenal's Double-winning side, he has so far staved off competition for his left-back place from Southampton's Wayne Bridge but is starting to develop a reputation as a player who goes to ground far too easily.

Ferdinand joined Manchester United for £30m

Rio Ferdinand Ferdinand's reputation has soared in the 12 months since Munich.

The ball-playing central defender has hardly put a foot wrong since England thrashed Germany, enjoying a brilliant World Cup and leaving Leeds for Manchester United for £30m.

Sol Campbell Campbell's quest for trophies was partially sated last season when he won the Double with Arsenal.

He then enjoyed a successful World Cup alongside Ferdinand and was named in Fifa's All Star team.

David Beckham Beckham's greatest moment came after Munich, when he scored England's last-gasp equaliser against Greece which sealed qualification.

The England skipper won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, but broke his foot playing for Manchester United and was drastically short of match fitness at the World Cup.

He has yet to recapture the inspirational form that endeared him to the nation last year.

Beckham has just become a father for the second time, wife Victoria giving birth to Romeo exactly a year after England's win in Munich.

Steven GerrardGerrard's superb strike against Germany remains his only goal for his country.

Hopes were high 12 months ago that his persistent injury problems were behind him.

But the Liverpool dynamo injured his groin playing against Ipswich in the final game of the Premiership season and required surgery - forcing him to miss the World Cup.

Now fit again, Gerrard is in the England squad to face Portugal and hopeful of an injury-free season - although he appeared to twist an ankle in Liverpool's draw with Newcastle on Monday night.

Paul Scholes After the high of Munich, Scholes endured a frustrating season for Manchester United.

The arrival of Juan Sebastian Veron saw Scholes deployed in a new attacking role for his club and his form dipped sharply.

Scholes seemed tired by the time the World Cup started and performed well below par.

Nick Barmby Played in England's final two qualifying games, against Albania and Greece.

But he was woefully out of form against the Greeks and was withdrawn at half time.

The remainder of his season was plagued by injury problems and, when fit, he could not force his way into the Liverpool team.

The midfielder recently joined Leeds and scored on the opening day of the Premiership season.

But he was not included in the squad to face Portugal and has yet to force his way back into the international set up.

Emile Heskey Heskey scored England's fifth goal against the Germans but then endured a 21-game drought for club and country before he finally notched again.

Heskey suffered a goal drought after Munich

Nevertheless, Heskey remained central to Eriksson's plans during the World Cup and scored in the 3-0 second-round win over Denmark.

His place alongside Michael Owen in the Liverpool starting line up has recently been taken by summer signing El Hadji Diouf.

Michael OwenThe undisputed hero of Munich, scoring a hat-trick.

Owen scored again in the crucial win over Albania four days later and found the net twice in the World Cup.

But Owen was far from fully fit in Korea and Japan, nursing a groin injury that blunted his usual sharpness.